Brick carrier



Dec. 15, 1964 w. c; FRANCIS BRICK CARRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 15, 1964 w. c. FRANCIS 3,161,431

BRICK CARRIER Filed March 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .w h A- Dec. 15, 1964 w. c. FRANCIS 3,161,431

BRICK CARRIER Fild March 9, .1962 s Sheets-Sheet a United States Patent 3,161,431 BRitCK CAREER Wilbur 6. Francis, Sioux Qity, lowa, assignor, by mesne assignments, to William K. Mathews, P.E., Prairie Village, Karts.

Filed Mar. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 178,594 t Claims. (Cl. 294-63) This invention relates to a brick carrier, and is particularly concerned with means for holding a plurality of bricks in predetermined spaced relationship as they are picbed up from one supporting surface and deposited on a second supporting surface.

Although the brick carrier may be used with finished brick'of any type, itis intended for use with uncured bricks that must be kept in spaced relationship before they are fired and are susceptible to deformation when handled in their green condition.

The brick carrier of the present invention picks up a group of bricks arranged on a supporting surface in spaced relationship in a single layer and handles them as a unit. The bricks may be positioned on the supporting surface manually, but preferably are positioned on a supporting surface having ribs or rails spaced to conform to the spacing for which the brick carrier is designed, so that the desired spaced arrangement of the bricks will be attained automatically and accurately without special attention.

As previously stated, the bricks are moved from the ofr bearing conveyor into predetermined spaced relationship, preferably on a pallet having ribs or rails spaced to conform to the spacing for which the brick carrier is designed. The brick carrier and the pallet are provided with interengageable guide means for aligning the brick carrier vertically with the rows of bricks to be handled. The'guide means comprises complementary cooperating guide members, such as, for example, a projection and a lug shaped tofit the projection. One of the guide members must be on the carrier. The other guide member may be on the pallet or may be fixed relative to the position of the pallet when the pallet is always to be unloaded in the same position. If the bricks are to be removed from a fixed position on a supporting surface other than a pallet, the second mentioned guide member may be fixed in any desired relationship to said supporting surface.

The brick carrier comprises a frame mounted for limited vertical rotation on the lower ends of a bail carried by a vertical supporting member on which it is adapted to rotate 360. T he vertical supporting member preferably has a flexible section, such as a chain or cable and is mounted on an overhead track or conveyor to facilitate by means of which the brick carrier may be moved vertically in either direction.

The frame has no top or bottom wall and is divided into a plurality of longitudinally extending compartments by a plurality of uniformly spaced pairs of oppositely disposed channels arranged edgewise with the flanges of each channel extending toward the flanges of the other flange of its pair. The flanges of each channel are joined by a smooth back, and the backs of each pair of channels engage bricks in difierent rows. The back of one channel engages the side of one row of bricks, and the other side of said row of bricks is engaged by the back of a channel of the adjacent pair of channels.

The channels of each pair of channels may be moved outwardly from each other mechanically, but preferably are moved outwardly by pneumatic means. Suitable mechanical means for moving the channels, outwardly 3,16lA3l Patented cc. 15, 1964 may comprise cams, gears or springs. The preferred pneumatic means comprises inflatable hose connected to an air line through a manifold adapted to inflate all of the hoses simultaneously. When the hoses are inflated,

one channel of each pair of channels is moved toward If desired, I

one channel of an adjacent pair of channels. the back of each channel may be slotted longitudinally to allow a portion of the hose to project therethrough. If slots are provided in the backs of the channels they are preferably beveled, with the wider side of the slot on the inner surface of the channel back, to protect the hose. The engagement of the projecting portions of the hoses is of particular advantage, because of the flexibility of the hose, in clamping rows of bricks that are not entirely uniform in thickness.

The brick carrier is moved into vertical alignment with the group of bricks to be handled, and the two cooperating guide members are interengaged. The carrier is then lowered until its frame encircles the bricks with the channels of the carrier medial of the vertical dimension of the bricks. In this position each of the rows of bricks is between the backs of two channels. The channels are then moved outwardly by turning a valve to allow air under pressure to flow through the manifold into the individual hoses connected thereto. The outward movement of the channels securely clamps each row of bricks etween two channel backs or between the portions of hoses projecting through longitudinal slots in said channel backs. The brick carrier may then be raised and moved anywhere within its range of movement, without deforming the bricks by the pressure of the channels and without danger of accidental release of the bricks even when the carrier is rotated vertically through The bricks project above and below the frame of the carrier when they are clamped therein. The carrier is moved into vertical alignment with the supporting surface on which the bricks are to be deposited, and is then lowered until the lower surfaces of the bricks rest on said supporting surface. The valve that controls the flow of air through the manifold is turned to shut off the supply of air to the manifold and to open the manifold to the atmosphere. In order to provide a more positive release, springs are provided at each end of the frame. Each spring is positioned between the backs of two channels of adjacent pairs of channels and bear against the channel backs to urge the channels of each pair of channels toward each other. The air in the hoses compresses the channels, but as soon as the manifold is opened to the atmosphere the springs exert their force against the channels in the opposite direction to cause quick release of the bricks.

The structure by means of which the above and other advantages of the invention are attained will be fully described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a loaded brick carrier being moved toward a discharge position above a layer of bricks on a supporting platform;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a brick carrier with the pivotal movement about a horizontal axis indicated by the dotted line showing of the carrier;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the brick carrier in vertical alignment with a supporting platform from which is has removed a layer of bricks;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the brick carrier being moved into alignment with a layer of bricks positioned on a supporting platform;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the carrier in vertical alignment with a layer of bricks;

. along the line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the connection between the inflatable hose and the air manifold; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the means for rotatably supporting the bail in the lower ends of which the frame of the brick carrier is rotatably mounted.

Referring to the drawings, the brick carrier of the present invention comprises a frame 2 rotatably mounted on a bail 3, as indicated at 4. The bail comprise a central section 5, oppositely disposed downwardly sloping sections 6 and 7, and a pair of vertical arms 8 and 9 depending respectively from the outer ends of sections 6 and 7. The bail may be an integral structure or may comprise separate bars welded or otherwise rigidly secured at their joints. Sections 5, 6 and 7 are reinforced by an integral flange 10. The bail is rotatably supported on the lower end of a vertical rod 11 by a combination thrust and rotary bearing 12, as shown in FIG. 9.

Bearing 12 comprises an inner race 13 rigidly secured in any suitable manner to a reduced neck portion 14 on the lower end of rod 11 by a washer 15 and a nut 16 threaded on the lower end of rod 11 and held in place by a cotter pin 17. Washer 15 presses the inner race upwardly against an annular shoulder 18 formed on rod 11 by the upper end of the reduced neck portion 14. An outer race 19 cooperates with the inner race 13 to hold a plurality of ball bearings 20. A sleeve 21, welded to the underside of section 5, encircles outer race 19 to prevent separation of the bearing parts. Bearing 12 supports the weight of the brick carrier and permit it to be rotated about its vertical axis through 360.

Vertical movement of rod 11 is controlled by an air cylinder 22 that is operated by push buttons 23 and 24 to move the brick carrier in either vertical direction. The structure for supporting the upper end of rod 11 is conventional. The upper end of rod 11 may include roller support means 48 mounted on a horizontal track 49 that extends over the area through which the brick carrier is to be moved laterally.

The vertical rotation of frame 2 on the horizontal axis 4 is limited by a stop plate 25 rigidly secured to arm 8, and a lug 26 extending laterally from the frame. The stop plate has a flat bottom surface that is abutted by lug 26 when the frame is in horizontal position. The abutting engagement between lug 26 and the bottom edge of stop plate 25 on either side of arm 8 limits the vertical rotation of frame 2 to 180 and also serves as a guide to facilitate holding the frame of the brick carrier in horizontal position as the brick carrier is being loaded or unloaded.

Frame 2 comprises a pair of longitudinal members 27 joined at their ends by a pair of transverse members 28 to form a hollow rectangular frame without either a top or bottom. A plurality of L-shaped brackets 29 is secured to transverse members 28 at uniformly spaced intervals. Each bracket supports a pair of oppositely disposed tubes 30 that are open at their outer ends to receive one end of a stud 31 projecting from one side of a channel 32. The studs 31 and tube 30 are axially aligned. As shown in FIG. 3, tubes 30 and studs 31 are provided adjacent each transverse member 28. The studs 31 extend into the tubes 30 far enough to support the channels 32 in parallel position with the flanges of each channel extending toward the flanges of an adjacent channel, as shown best in FIG. 7. A s ring 33 coiled around each stud 31 urges the channels 32 away from the bracket 29, thereby forcing each stud 31 outwardly of its tube 30. The channels 32 and studs 31 are so dimensioned that the flanges of each channel abut the flanges of the other channel of a pair of channels, before either stud, rigidly secured to one of the 6. channels, is moved far enough to clear the end of the tube 39 in which it is slidably mounted.

A flexible hose 34 is positioned between each pair of channels 32 having flanges extending toward each other. As shown in PEG. 8, each hose has an open end 35 clamped, by means of a collar 36, to one end of a pipe 37 extending from an air manifold 38. The other end of hose 34 is closed in any suitable manner. Air manifold 38 is connected to an air line 39 that leads from a source of air under pressure and is controlled by a valve (not shown). Air flowing into hose 34 under pressure expands said hose to move it channels outwardly. This outward movement of the channels moves each channel towards the adjacent channel of the adjacent pair of channels to provide a firm gripping action for a row of bricks 4% that is positioned on a pallet 41 (FIG. 6). The rows of bricks are held in predetermined spaced relation by the slot, and the bricks will be gripped by the projecting portions of the hose rather than by the channels. This mode of construction is advantageous when the bricks to be gripped are not of uniform thickness. The flexibiilty of the hose permits a firm grip against the sides of bricks that vary in thicknes to such extent that each brick cannot be gripped firmly by the rigid channels. When the channels are slotted as described above, the slots preferably have beveled walls to protect the hose against excessive wear.

Although the pneumatic means described above is the preferred means for moving the channels into gripping engagement with the rows of bricks, it should be understood that the chnnnels may be moved into said gripping engagement by any suitable mechanical means.

When the carrier has a pallet load of bricks firmly held, it may be lifted by manipulation of air cylinder 22, and may be moved laterally to a dryer conveyor belt, a kiln car, or to any desired location. In FIG. 1, the carrier is moving a layer of bricks to deposit them on a layer of bricks already positioned on a skid 47. The bricks from the carrier may be deposited in a horizontal plane on the lower layer of bricks in any desired angular relationship thereto. The pivot 4 permits the layer of bricks held in the frame to be rotated vertically through so that the bricks may be reversed, relative to the bricks on skid 47, if desired.

When the air pressure is shut off, the hose 34 is vented to the atmosphere, and the springs 33 urge channels 32 of each pair of channels toward each other to release all the bricks immediately. The springs 33 are adapted to hold rails 42 extending longitudinally of the pallet.

To insure proper vertical registration of the channels and the rows of bricks, frame member 2 and pallet 41 are provided with interengageable guide members. In the drawings, the guide members comprise two positioning rods 43 that extend vertically from brackets 44 mounted on one end of the pallet and projecting laterally therefrom. Bifurcated lugs 45, mounted on brackets 46 that extend laterally from frame 2 are adapted to engage the positioning rods 43. It is obvious that, if desired, the positioning rods may be mounted on the carrier frame and the bifurcated lugs 45 may be mounted on the pallet. The specific configuration of the guide members is not critical, the only requirement being that the members on the frame must be engageable with the members on the pallet so as to guide the frame downwardly in a straight vertical path to insure proper positioning of the channels relative to the rows of bricks. When the channels are adjacent the midsection of the bricks, air is forced into the hose 34 until each row of bricks is firmly gripped by the channels on opposite sides thereof.

The bricks are removed from the supporting surface as a unit, and are deposited on a second supporting surface without disturbing the spaced relationship of the individual bricks. The carrier may be turned through any lateral angle so that one layer may be stacked on another in angular relationship thereto, and may be turned vertically through 180 so that the layer of bricks may be reversed. In stacking face brick, for example, it is usually desirable tohhave the faces of superimposed layers facing each ot er.

If desired, the backs of the channels may be slotted to permit a portion of the inflatable hose to project through the channels in their retracted positions so that the carrier may be moved into vertical alignment with a layer of bricks in predetermined spaced relationship on a pallet or on any other suitable supporting surface and the process may be repeated.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of construction may be modified or changed Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described.

I claim:

1. In combination with a supporting surface having a guide member extending perpendicularly to the plane of said supporting surface and a plurality of rows of bricks positioned on said supporting surface in predetermined spaced relationship in a single layer, a brick carrier comprising a rectangular frame having an open top and an open bottom, means for moving said carrier vertically, a guide member mounted on said frame and extending vertically relative thereto, said second mentioned guide member being adapted to cooperate with said first mentioned guide member to position said frame in vertical alignment with said bricks above the upper surface thereof and to guide the downward movement of the frame in a vertical path so as to surround said layer of bricks when the frame is moved downwardly into the horizontal plane of said bricks, gripping bars mounted in said frame in parallel relationship, said gripping bars being spaced to move downwardly between said rows of bricks as said frame is moved downwardly into the horizontal plane of said bricks, means for moving each gripping bar between adjacent rows of bricks toward a gripping bar engaging the opposite sides of the bricks engaged by said first mentioned gripping bar to hold said bricks in said predetermined spaced relation as said brick carrier moves said layer of bricks as a unit, and means to move said gripping bars in the opposite direction to release said bricks from said carrier, whereby said bricks may be deposited on a second supporting surface in said predetermined relationship.

2. A brick carrier comprising a bail rotatably mounted on a vertical supporting member, said bail being rotatable through 360 around the vertical axis of said supporting member, a rectangular frame rotatably mounted in horizontally disposed trunnions on said bail, means to limit the rotation of said frame about its horizontal axis to 180, gripping bars mounted horizontally in said frame in parallel relationship, means for moving said frame laterally into vertical alignment with a layer of bricks comprising a plurality of rows of bricks positioned on a supporting surface in predetermined spaced relation ship and downwardly into surrounding engagement with said layer with one of said gripping bars in each space between adjacent rows of bricks, means for moving each of said gripping bars into gripping engagement with said bricks, and means for releasing said gripping bars from said gripping engagement, whereby said layer of bricks may be deposited on a second supporting surface in said predetermined spaced relationship in a horizontal plane at any desired angle to said second supporting surface with either horizontal surface of said bricks in engagement with said second supporting surface.

3. A brick carrier comprising a bail rotatably mounted on a vertical supporting member, said bail being rotatable through 360 around the vertical axis of said supporting member, a rectangular frame rotatably mounted in horizontally disposed trunnions on said bail, interengaging stop members on said frame and said bail limiting the rotation of said frame about its horizontal axis to 180, gripping bars mounted horizontally in said frame in parallel relationship, means for moving said frame laterally into vertical alignment with a layer of bricks comprising a plurality of rows of bricks positioned on a supporting surface in predetermined spaced relationship and downwardly into surrounding engagement with said layer, with one of said gripping bars in each space between adjacent rows of bricks, fluid pressure means for moving said gripping bars into gripping engagement with said" bricks to hold said bricks in said predetermined spaced relationship, and means to release said gripping bars from said gripping engagement, whereby said layer of bricks may be deposited on a second supporting surface in said predetermined spaced relationship in a horizontal plane at any desired angle to said second supporting surface with either horizontal surface of said bricks in engagement with said second supporting surface.

4. A brick carrier comprising a bail rotatably mounted on a vertical supporting member, said bail being rotatable through 360 around the vertical axis of said supporting member, a rectangular frame rotatably mounted in horizontally disposed trunnions on said bail, said frame being rotatable in a vertical plane through an angle of at least 180, a plurality of gripping members mounted horizontally within said frame, means for moving said frame laterally into vertical alignment with a layer of bricks comprising a plurality of spaced rows of bricks positioned on a supporting surface, and downwardly into surrounding engagement with said layer of bricks, with said gripping members in the spaces between said rows of bricks, means for moving said gripping members into gripping engagement with said bricks to hold them in predetermined spaced relationship whereby said layer of bricks may be lifted by said frame and handled as a unit, and means for releasing said gripping means from said gripping engagement, whereby said layer of bricks may be deposited on a second supporting surface in said predetermined spaced relationship in a horizontal plane at any desired angle to said second supporting surface with either horizontal surface of said bricks in engagement with said second supporting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 758,893 Bissett May 3, 1904 1,811,924 Fontaine June 30, 1931 2,213,629 Fontaine Sept. 3, 1940 2,247,168 Fontaine June 24, 1941 2,610,890 Jaeger Sept. 16, 1952 2,784,997 Bauman Mar. 12, 1957 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A SUPPORTING SURFACE HAVING A GUIDE MEMBER EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY TO THE PLANE OF SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE AND A PLURALITY OF ROWS OF BRICKS POSITIONED ON SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE IN PREDETERMINED SPACED RELATIONSHIP IN A SINGLE LAYER, A BRICK CARRIER COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR FRAME HAVING AN OPEN TOP AND AN OPEN BOTTOM, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CARRIER VERTICALLY, A GUIDE MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND EXTENDING VERTICALLY RELATIVE THERETO, SAID SECOND MENTIONED GUIDE MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH SAID FIRST MENTIONED GUIDE MEMBER TO POSITION SAID FRAME IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BRICKS ABOVE THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF AND TO GUIDE THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE FRAME IN A VERTICAL PATH SO AS TO SURROUND SAID LAYER OF BRICKS WHEN THE FRAME IS MOVED DOWNWARDLY INTO THE HORIZONTAL PLANE OF SAID BRICKS, GRIPPING BARS MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP, SAID GRIPPING BARS BEING SPACED TO MOVE DOWNWARDLY BETWEEN SAID ROWS OF BRICKS AS SAID FRAME IS MOVED DOWNWARDLY INTO THE HORIZONTAL PLANE OF SAID BRICKS, MEANS FOR MOVING EACH GRIPPING BAR BETWEEN ADJACENT ROWS OF BRICKS TOWARD A GRIPPING BAR ENGAGING THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BRICKS ENGAGED BY SAID FIRST MENTIONED GRIPPING BAR TO HOLD SAID BRICKS IN SAID PREDETERMINED SPACED RELATION AS SAID BRICK CARRIER MOVES SAID LAYER OF BRICKS AS A UNIT, AND MEANS TO MOVE SAID GRIPPING BARS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO RELEASE SAID BRICKS FROM SAID CARRIER, WHEREBY SAID BRICKS MAY BE DEPOSITED ON A SECOND SUPPORTING SURFACE IN SAID PREDETERMINED RELATIONSHIP. 